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My kitten has white worms and is tired. Should I take him to the vet?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Male | unneutered | 4 months and 14 days old | 5 lbs

My kitten is 16 wks I have yet to take him to the Vet I seen a thin white worm on there litter part of his anal, 2days ago he's been looking more tired lately what can I do?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Published on August 15th, 2017

It sounds like Boots may have intestinal parasites. There are many different kinds, but we usually lump them into 3 groups: round/hook/whip worms look like spaghetti, tapeworms look like flat noodles or small grains of rice, and coccidia or giardia are other types that are not visibly seen. You can try an OTC dewormer that treats the specific type of worm you are seeing and make sure it is repeated in a few weeks as directed on the label, but I recommend that Boots go to a vet. She is way overdue for kitten vaccines and a rabies shot (which is required in all cats and dogs by law - even if they will never ever step foot outside). There are many nasty cat viruses that can cause illness and even death. Your vet can also test a fecal sample to determine the most appropriate treatment timeline for her individual parasite(s).

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    Answered By Dr. Macartney, BVet Med, MRCVS

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    I am very sorry to hear that Boots is not himswlf. It sounds like he has gastrointestinal worms. These are very common in kittens and so several depending treatmenta are recommended in their first 6 months of life. I would advise a visit to the vet for a deworming treatment. The vet will also discuss starting routine vaccinations to keep Boots safe from serious diseases.

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